Undercurrents

by Frances Fyfield

Haunted for two decades by his memories of his long-lost love, Francesca Chisholm, American Henry Evans journeys to her hometown on the English coast to search for her and finds far more than he had ever expected. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Adult, British Literature

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Aka Frances Hegarty.

Frances Fyfield is a criminal lawyer, who lives in London and in Deal, by the sea which is her passion. She has won several awards, including the CWA Silver Dagger.

She grew up in rural Derbyshire, but spent most of her adult life in London, with long intervals in Norfolk and Deal, all inspiring places. She was educated mostly in convent schools; then studied English at Newcastle University and went on to qualify as a solicitor, working for what is now the Crown Prosecution Service, thus learning a bit about murder at second hand. She also worked for the Metropolitan Police.

Years later, writing became her real vocation. She also writes short stories for magazines and radio and is occasionally a contributor to Radio 4, (Front Row, Quote Unquote, Night Waves,) and presenter of Tales from the Stave.

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a word, satisfying.
Havng just finished a quick-fire, shallow, chick-lit I was initially caught out with the pace of this, checking several times that it had not been written in the 1960s, so solid did it feel (and then was misled by the word 'caff' which definitely felt past its sell by date)
But this was a solid, well-crafted, richly textured piece of writing with slow-revealed and rounded characters. Really a three and a half stars, and I shall definitely seek out more.

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. I can see why people like Ian Rankin rate her as a writer. Nice little twists and turns. Characters one can empathise with. Not quite as brilliant as our Ruth, but very enjoyable read. Kept me turning the pages.

[Franziska Self Fisken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Terrific story. Interesting characters.

[David Kilner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book got to me in the end, after a long slow start and development. So English, set off against an unusual American, whose understanding of the truth gradually creeps up on him. Some interesting characters, a bleak setting and a neat twist at the end. Confirmed for me why I have always loved Fyfield's work and will read more.

[CLM · Rating 2 out of 5]

All of Fyfield's books are dark but this one seemed especially bleak. It became obvious early on who the murderer was (and I was correct) but there were a few unexpected twists at the end. I became impatient 2/3 through and switched from the audio version to the actual book.

[Elusive · Rating 2 out of 5]

In 'Undercurrents', Henry has always thought of Francesca as the one who got away. So when he learns that she's in prison for the murder of her son, he embarks on a journey to her hometown and attempts to figure out the truth behind the crime. As he obtains more information, he realizes that perhaps someone else might have been responsible after all..

Despite the intriguing premise, I found this book to be such a dull and uneventful read. There's no doubt that the author can write beautifully as her descriptions of places and atmosphere are great. However, the story didn't have a seamless flow. It didn't help that none of the characters were fleshed out. Henry didn't actually do much legwork or even delve into the case details. He seemed to wander around, his head filled with regrets and questions. He was fixated on the past, on the could-have-beens and it got tiring to read about that pretty quickly.

The crime / mystery aspect lacked suspense mainly because it took a backseat to pointless descriptions and Henry's thoughts. Everything was long-winded; by the time Henry figured out what had really happened to Francesca's son, I didn't care anymore. I was just glad that there were no more pages to turn. I did like the unexpected twist regarding Maggie's true identity but even that wasn't enough to redeem this book in my eyes.

Overall, 'Undercurrents' was a disappointingly long and slow read as the characters had no personality and the mystery was dragged out.

[Elisabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall I was left feeling a bit flat when having finished reading this book. It is not a bad book, but it's not really good either. Very down the middle. It is one of those books which is fine and enjoyable enough when you are reading it, but in 6 months you will have forgotten it's title and most of the plot.

I did enjoy that is more than your run-of-the-mill mystery or thriller. The writing is very descriptive (sometimes too much!), but the setting is wonderfully atmospheric. You can taste the salt in the air, hear the crashing and rumblings of the sea, feel the cold in your bones. This probably is what I enjoyed more than anything.

The gallery of characters is also fairly broad and there is more angst and eccentricity in them than I expected. That being said, there are certainly some characters which I feel didn't really serve a purpose, they didn't do terribly much to drive the story.

Concerning the big questions, the biting points of action - really things are not that exciting or so scandalous that it will shock you. I am quite poor at guessing the twists of anything, and I was hardly surprised when things got revealed.

2.5 stars.

[Malcolm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I found this a little slow at first, perhaps because of they type of books I have been reading recently, it was ultimately a very satisfying read. The writing was excellent as you would expect from this author, conveying the town and its inhabitants in all their aspects, warts and all. Populated with eccentrics this is far more than a crime novel though there is a violent death at the heart of it.

It is as though the sleepy town and its sleepy inhabitants have been waiting for an outsider to come along and solve the mystery they themselves have shied away from. In the process the incomer, American Henry Evans, discovers a few things about himself and must decide whether he wants to recapture his past or live in the present.

Although the solution to the crime was signalled in the story quite early I did not feel this spoilt the book. In fact like many crime books the enjoyment was in the telling rather than just the reveal. I did fail to spot the final twist which Fyfield delivered like the perfect coup-de-grace.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very descriptive writing style in which I found myself directly in the story alongside the characters. A bit of mystery with diverse people thrown together and making life work as best as they can, together, both willing and reluctant.

[Cathy Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unusual take on the crime-solving genre. Wonderfully written, but lost a star because the ending felt cheesy to me.

[Rogue Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

A spectacular unexpected mcguffin that was a pleasure to trace. Setting is pretty atypical too, an historic fortification with as many hidden spaces as the characters protect within themselves.

[Jean Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable. Good characters and sufficient mystery and suspense.

[Alison Levi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Haven't read this author before and not hugely searching for anymore of their titles.
Found this heavy going and sadly have given up.

[Nisha Aiyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very atmospheric but rather long winded. I guessed the suspense about 60% into the book. The last twist seemed totally unnecessary, unless to provide some kind of redemption for a long ago love.

[Lynn Hutchinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t terribly impressed by this book, it jumps around all over the place too much for me.

[Lee Milligan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy the writing style

[gabrielle stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this , very different from anything else I have read . Didn’t pick the ending .

[Lorraine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Everything in this book was obvious. Atmosphere. Red herrings. Characters introduced for no apparent reason. None of the characters was likeable. The ending had no previous hints. It was just sprung on the reader. Rather than undercurrents, this book was a tide throwing flotsam and jetsam at the reader.

[Beth Strand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undercurrents” will Sweep You into a Story of Love and Loss and New Beginnings
Henry has come to England to take a job with his company but he has a secret ambition…to find the woman he lost twenty years before due to a moment of hesitation on his part. He arrives at the seaport town in foul weather and is greeted by a flooded hotel and angry hotelier. Foisting him off to the “House of Enchantment” is just the beginning of Henry’s adventures which include ghosts, gravely disturbing news about his lost love, and a cast of characters as varied as one could ever hope for.
Frances Fyfield takes the reader on a journey of the heart in “Undercurrents.” Henry is just the sort of character you can identify with. He’s a bit lost in life, still trying to find his way at a point when most men have a certain path. The more deeply he digs into the misfortune that has befallen his lost love, the more he is convinced that he must find out the truth…no matter where it leads him.
“Undercurrents” gets my highest recommendation for great characters, good plot, and a wonderful sense of place. This would be another great recommendation for a reading group and is suitable for high school readers and up.
“Undercurrents” was provided to me by the publisher for this review. The opinions, however, are entirely my own! “Undercurrents” is scheduled for release on January 7, 2014.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book on CD.
Part of my problem with this book might have been the reader who did a very bad American accent --- the main protagonist sounded like he was talking around a mouthful of oatmeal. If that's the way Americans sound to Brits, it's truly embarrassing.
The other problem I had was that even though the plot line was strong, the main characters seemed irritating rather than sympathetic, particularly Henry Evans who has come to a small sea side town in England to track down a girl he met in India twenty years ago. Henry is filled with regrets (Why didn't he ask the girl to stay? Why didn't he get on the bus when she was leaving? Why wasn't he more sympathetic? Why doesn't he just stop whinging and get on with his life?) The secondary characters, however, give the book life --- and odd couple (gay of course) who run a B&B, a small boy (now dead) who had cerebral palsy, and a black dog.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry Evans, an American pharmaceutical scientist, has come to a seaside village in southern Britain to try to reconnect with Francesca, a woman he knew briefly 20 years previously when they were both tourists in india. To his horror, he discovers that she has been jailed for the murder of her disabled son, a crime to which she has confessed. For Henry, this doesn't square at all with his memories of her as a genuinely kind and caring person, so he decides to investigate further this bizarre episode in Francesca's life. Did she truly kill her son? And why are her relatives so eager for him to abandon his detective work? A motley cast of characters and a surprise ending make this an enjoyable suspense. While it is not as psychologically complex as the novels of Ruth Rendell, it will appeal to Rendell fans.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was something about this book that captured my imagination; although I can't quite put my finger on what it was! The plot wasn't the strongest or most intriguing I've ever read and the 'twist' at the end was a bit much; however, some of the characters were really quirky and interesting and the author created a quaint, yet almost surreal, atmosphere at times that I found quite engaging.

My favourite characters would have to be the two men who ran the B&B; I actually wish I could take refuge in the House of Enchantment myself! At times, the main character, Henry, was a bit infuriating and useless; however, I guess the author wished to stress his sense of being at a loss at this time of his life.

This book is probably not for everyone but I enjoyed it.

[Bonnie G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mystery in a slightly different sense: the main character, Henry, is not a detective, but a flawed man seeking a woman he should never have let go. In the course of trying to find her again, he tries to solve a small town murder that he thinks has been misunderstood. I love the characters and the small English seaside town, even though the weather is terrible all during the course of the book.
I also read "Not That Kind of Place" by Fyfield, but that book does not appear on the goodreads site. I liked it too, as it features a strong woman who loves and helps a cop. Mostly I just love the English countryside setting.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing style is incredibly unique and I adore it. The plot is very interesting. Fyfield truly fleshes out all of the characters. Delightful and cheeky foreshadowing throughout, I finished it and immediately read it again.

Quotes:
“The sea was in a state of glorious rage”(273).
“Being articulate can be treacherous”(Prologue).
“We’re all trying to forget her. As if we could. Although we should. I can’t”(34).
“If I weren’t so full of funerals, I’d dream of yours”(62).
“Loving someone has never been a guarantee of their virtue”(77).
“It was hopeless trying to explain things; it always was”(117).
“‘Children are cruel’ ‘They’re rehearsing to be adults.’”(156).

[Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled to get into this one, although I have read and enjoyed others by this author. The characters weren't initially engaging, and the pace is slow,but in the end I was glad I persevered. The murderer was obvious from an early point, but that didn't detract from what is really more a why- than a whodunnit.

[Cyn (RaeWhit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best book I read in 2010. It's a stand-alone, not one of Fyfield's series. The stream of consciousness is so well done--never irritating or confusing, and the premise is haunting and original. Couldn't put it down.

[Mary Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, about Henry Evans who goes to a seaside village in England looking for a girl he met twenty years ago in India and finds a bit of a mystery! Interesting story and the characters are well developed too.

[Deborah J · Rating 2 out of 5]

More than two stars, really, but not quite three. As usual, Fyfield's sense of place and the way her characters belong to locations, flee them, stay and fight them, or whatever they do, is the star of the show. The story is secondary, and even the big twist seemed relatively unimportant

[Lisa H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, knew who the killer was less than halfway through, but... there's a fun little twist at the very end that I totally never saw coming. Good airplane/vacation read.

[Harvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

...only mildly suspenseful...although a wonderful effort at psychological analysis. Ultimately disappointing as a result of a flat plot.